Lacson: Cadets are supposed to ‘ innovate ‘

Hazing was a “type of discipline” in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) for a long time, but students should shun this practice and begin “innovative,” said Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday after the death of one of his students last week.

Lacson, a former police chief, and PMA alumnus said students should learn these days that it is no longer appropriate to use “physical contact” to instill discipline on their underclassmen.

Cadet Darwin Dormitorio, 20, died from stomach pain on Wednesday. He was restricted twice in the past month to the hospital and had hazing-consistent bruises on his stomach. In his death, the authorities recognized 3 suspects.

Malacañang also condoled with Dormitorio’s family and lamented an incident prevention failure in PMA governance. Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the PMA head, Lt. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, was supposed to resign from the incident.